A/N Hope you like this next chapter! :D
Chapter 4: Hello Sunshine
It was a young boy of about twelve, he had light brown hair which flopped over his forehead, I thought he was cute, in a childish way. I grimaced, so I was being saved by a twelve year old? How humiliating.
"It's Gordie." He extended his hand; I shook it, all the while thinking he certainly wasn't cut from the same cloth as Ace.
"You've been with Ace?" it was more a statement than a question, despite the questioning tone.
I gaped at him, "have you been stalking me or something?"
He laughed, "You're a pretty girl. Ace likes pretty girls." A frown appeared on his face, "well, then again, who doesn't?"
I had to laugh with him; he was nice, much nicer than my latest "friends."
"If I were you, I'd stay away from the likes of Ace Merrill." He suddenly looked worried, as though I might get upset from his warnings.
"Too late, I got the alert firsthand."
He looked embarrassed,
"Well anyway, you looked lost."
"That's because I am."
I pulled out my phone, I was certain I'd written the address down somewhere...why hadn't I thought of that earlier?
I pointed at the phone in triumph, "Know this place?"
He examined my phone, not an easy feat in this darkness. I watched anxiously, relieved when his eyes lit up in obvious recognition, "yeah, you just gotta go left up at the turning," he gestured to the back way from the bar, which I had previously not noticed, "and then straight on for half a mile."
I hugged him, which was probably a little inappropriate, "thank you!" He looked bemused at my reaction, "anytime," he replied, dazedly, "I live next door, I'll walk with you."
I practically skipped home; it had been an extremely long night.
I was not, however, greeted by a pleasant proposition, when I finally arrived at what was going to be my new home.
The door was locked, and I did not have a key. My shoulders slumped in defeat, a terrible end to a terrible day.
Gordie shuffled his feet anxiously, "everything okay?" I looked up at him from my position on the porch, "yeah...yeah, its fine you go in, I'll be okay."
He tried not to look relieved; "umm right..." he hurriedly scooted inside. I leant back against the cherry red door, I didn't like the colour red, I'd have to repaint that, I found myself idly thinking.
"Hey! You can't stay there! Gordie told me what happened." A girl, about my age, was glaring down at me. I was far too tired to put an argument up, "I live here...forgot key..." I half-heartedly explained. She looked at me, as though I had insulted her intelligence, "I can see that! But its freezing out here, come inside." She stepped back into her own house, pausing to tell me her name, "its Clara, by the way," and she continued on her way in, leaving the front door slightly ajar. I bit my lip, was it really a good idea to go into another complete stranger's house, when I had only recently escaped Ace's. But then, I argued, it was most unlikely that mother would be returning any time soon, and I wasn't exactly looking forward to sleeping in the garden. Hoping I wouldn't regret yet another reckless decision, I followed her inside.
This house was certainly more upmarket, immaculately clean, not a hair out of place. I was almost scared to touch anything, I might have marked something. The girl came back, I focused on her properly, she possessed curly, brown hair with a reddish tint, and hazel eyes. Her clothes were much more summer-ish than what I was used to, (not unusual, considering the climate difference) it was a light yellow dress, not dissimilar to that you might find on a traveller (a hippy, to be blunt). Her eyes were squinting at me, it took me a minute to realise why, "you need your glasses?"
She tried to focus on me, failing I might add, "Yeah, I dropped them on my way in." I had a great urge to laugh, this seemed overtly similar to Thelma from Scobby Doo, I half expected her to start going, "my glasses! I need my glasses!" I scanned the length of the hall, noticing the black frames tucked away in the corner. Must have fallen from a pocket or something, I mused. I retrieved them and handed them to her, earning a smile in return.
"So, what were you doing out there, alone?" She sounded disapproving, and I didn't blame her, I would be if the situation was reversed.
"Ahhh well...." I didn't really want to admit that I'd been with Ace; Gordie's reaction had made me apprehensive of what people would think. Although, I thought, I owed her the truth at least, in return for her kindness.
"Ace." I finished lamely. To my great relief, Clara's face broke into a grin, "Ace...yeah, that figures."
"What do you mean?" Well, I needn't have worried; Clara seemed to find the situation highly amusing.
"Ah, well, you could say I know Ace pretty well. His friend- and I use the term; "friend" loosely-Eyeball is my sort-of-boyfriend. It doesn't surprise me Ace has caught on to you already, he always was a quick worker..."
She caught sight of my expression and tried to backtrack, "not that I mean anything by that!" She tacked on hastily.
I shrugged, no need to take offence after everything else, "forget about it." She looked at me for a length of time, and then decided to let it drop. "Whatever. Guess I'll be seeing you around a lot then."
I looked at her, "not to be rude, but.... why?"
She looked impatient, "well, you do live next door and seeing as you'll be around Ace and I have Eyeball..."
"I don't like Ace."
A shocked expression crossed her face then disappeared completely, she whistled,
"Can't say I blame you, I don't either." She grinned toothily, "but joking aside, Ace'll not give up that easily, by rejecting him, well that just makes you more of a challenge in his eyes."
She crossed to the doorway of the living room, "but, well, I suppose that's your decision. You can sleep on the sofa, if you like. If not, be sure to lock the door behind you."
And with that remark, she swept out of the room.
I felt bad for intruding on them, although they were much friendlier than I would have expected. I hoped we'd be friends, I needed a friend...
I didn't want to accept her offer, it felt like too much from someone I didn't know, but I really had no choice. The sofa looked....comfortable...well, not really, but it would do..... I should be grateful for anything I'm offered, I scolded myself. So, to make the best of things, I lay on it and attempted to assume a restful position.
My own fears were being confirmed repeatedly.
I shouldn't have become caught up with Ace........
Then, I finally put an end to my first day in Castle Rock.
